33 HOW TO CLEAN DECKING

A decked garden area provides a dedicated entertaining zone for any outdoor space, perfect for use year round.

However, it can end up being slippery (and quite dangerous) if it’s not properly taken care of. Cleaning your decking is really easy when you follow some simple steps…

■ Start by clearing your decking completely – furniture, pots, your barbecue, ornaments, and anything else. Place them safely somewhere they won’t be in the way for a day or so. Then, give the surface a thorough sweep using a broom or deck brush to get debris out from between the planks as best you can.

■ Next, apply a cleaning solution. For a gentler clean to remove surface dirt and cobwebs, use a solution of washing-up liquid in warm water. Be careful not to over-scrub with anything harshly abrasive, and avoid rubbing against the grain, as that can leave marks. Alternatively, you can purchase a product made especially for cleaning decking. While you can use soapy water, a specialist product (try Ronseal, Cuprinol or Jeyes) is more tailored to a decked surface so will produce a better result. Whatever you choose to use, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to apply, timings and how to rinse away.

■ If your deck is particularly dirty, then more stringent cleaning with a decking stripper may be required. Make sure you wear gloves and apply it to your decking with a brush.

■ A pressure washer will make light work of cleaning composite decking. It’ll blast away any moss and algae that may have built up on the deck. Choose a gentle setting – anything too powerful and you may damage the surface. Timber decking is best tackled with a gentler approach so it’s wise to avoid using a pressure washer to clean it. The same goes for weathered decking. Use a garden hose if you have one to wash away any dirt and grime, spraying in between the planks to dislodge any twigs and debris. Then wash the decking with a gentle cleaning solution made of warm water and soap.

IDEAL HOME TIP If your decking is made from timber, avoid using a pressure washer as you could damage it